For Immediate Release: 10/26/23
Contact: Office of Media Relations and Communications | (518) 471-5300 | public.info@thruway.ny.gov   

TRAVEL ADVISORY: DEMOLITION OPERATIONS SET TO BEGIN ON NORTH AVENUE BRIDGE IN NEW ROCHELLE ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 30

Two Lanes in Each Direction to be Closed on I-95 At Night To Safely Facilitate Work Activities

North Avenue Bridge to Be Reduced to One-Way Alternating Traffic Overnight

Multiple Traffic Stoppages on I-95 and North Avenue Will Be Required to Remove Overhead Steel

Motorists are Encouraged to Seek Alternative Routes Around the Work Zone 

The New York State Thruway Authority today announced demolition at the North Avenue bridge over the New England Thruway (I-95) in New Rochelle in Westchester County is expected to begin on Monday, Oct. 30. Demolition will occur overnight requiring lane closures and traffic stops on I-95 and North Avenue. This work is anticipated to take approximately three weeks to complete.

The $31.8 million project to replace the 65-year-old North Avenue bridge with a modern span began in January, with the majority of construction occurring during the day. The three-year project is currently in the first of its three stages, which provides for two lanes of traffic in the center of the existing bridge so its outermost components can be removed and new foundations built, while maintaining access to downtown.

Activities such as the upcoming removal of superstructure elements, however, will necessitate the night work. This approach limits the unavoidable impacts to traffic—both on the highway and within the city—and facilitates the safety of the project’s workers and motorists.

During the upcoming work, two out of three lanes in each direction on I-95 will be closed overnight on weeknights, starting as early as 10 p.m. with full reopening by 5 a.m. New Rochelle police officers and flaggers will direct motorists on North Avenue, which will transition to a one-way alternating traffic pattern after 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on most work nights.

In mid-November, multiple traffic stops lasting up to 20 minutes will take place concurrently on I-95 and North Avenue allowing cranes to safely load large sections of steel onto flatbed trucks stationed below on the highway. The public should check the Thruway Authority’s Facebook and X accounts for the latest travel advisories.

Motorists are encouraged to take alternate routes around the work zone to avoid delays starting after 8 p.m.

Variable message signs on North Avenue and in the vicinity will advise motorists of a detour route.

Since March, a new traffic pattern has been in place to allow cars, buses, and other vehicles with three axles or less to use two lanes in the center of the bridge. Left turns from North Avenue to Garden Street remain prohibited, as are left turns from Garden Street to North Avenue. Due to space constraints, trucks with four or more axles are not allowed to travel through the construction zone; a signed truck detour has been provided.

Here’s a summary of traffic flow during Stage 1:

• First responders, cars, buses, delivery trucks, and vehicles with three axles or less have access to the bridge at all times.
• Left turns from North Avenue to Garden Street are prohibited; a detour is provided utilizing Lockwood Avenue to Memorial Highway.
• Left turns from Garden Street to North Avenue are prohibited; a detour is provided utilizing Cedar Street to Huguenot Street.
• Due to space constraints, vehicles with more than three axles are not allowed through the construction zone; a truck detour is provided.
• Burling Lane between North Avenue and May Street is closed for the duration of the project.
• The left-turn lane on Station Plaza North is part of the work zone; two lanes remain open to traffic and motorists can continue to turn left onto North Avenue.
• Pedestrian/bicycle traffic will use the walkway over I-95 connecting at Burling Lane and the train station throughout the project.
• All local businesses remain accessible.

Working closely with New Rochelle officials, Thruway Authority engineers determined the replacement of the North Avenue bridge should be completed in three stages to maintain access to the heart of the city while minimizing impacts to local residents, businesses, and motorists. When the project is substantially completed in 2025, the new bridge will be wider, improve traffic flow on nearby roads, and raise its vertical clearance over I-95 to 16’ 6’’ from the current height of 14’ 3”. The North Avenue bridge opened in 1958 and connects North Avenue, Garden Street, Burling Lane, and Station Plaza North in this area. Approximately 7.3 million vehicles travel the bridge each year.

Stage 1 of the project includes the construction of new substructures, erection of steel and placement of concrete decks. Stage 2 will move vehicles to two lanes on the new outer bridge sections so the remainder of the old bridge can be removed and rebuilt, while Stage 3 will move vehicles to the center of the new five-lane bridge so sidewalks, paving, decorative lighting, and other work can be completed. Burling Lane has been converted to a one-way road for westbound traffic during this stage.

J. D’Annunzio & Sons, Inc., is the project contractor.

Digital message boards have been placed around the work zone to advise motorists and pedestrians about the project. Physical signs have also been installed in the work zone and in the vicinity to alert motorists and pedestrians about the various detours.

For additional project information, photos and maps, visit the project page on the Thruway Authority’s website.

Motorists may encounter lane closures on the New England Thruway along with traffic shifts and stoppages while construction is underway. Motorists should follow the posted work zone speed limits and are reminded that fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. In accordance with the Work Zone Safety Act of 2005, convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual's driver license.

For up-to-date travel information, motorists are encouraged to download the Thruway’s mobile app which is available to download for free on iPhone and Android devices. The app provides motorists direct access to real-time traffic information, live traffic cameras and navigation assistance while on the go. Travelers can also visit the Thruway Authority's interactive Traveler Map which features live traffic cameras.

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